What Small Businesses Should Know About DIY Website Builders
Do you need to build a website for your small business and are considering building one yourself?
If you don’t yet have one, building a small business website is very important. Unfortunately, many people think they can build it themselves. Only after making a low-quality website do they realize they would have been better off leaving it to the professionals.
If you want to learn why building a DIY website is not an ideal idea for your small business, read on. We’ll tell you what you need to know.
- Despite what it seems, it’s not so easy
There are many programs and platforms whose marketing suggests building your website is easy. They promise you can design your website in a day or less without technical knowledge. This is why so many people who do not know how to design a business website choose to build it themselves.
Unfortunately, only after investing in software and programs do people realize that it’s not as easy to build a small business website as they thought it would be. They get stuck with a half-built website they don’t know how to finish.
- It is always possible to find hidden fees
No matter what platform you use to build your DIY website, you’ll face hidden fees. One of the most frustrating things when designing a business website on their own is the expenses they don’t realize they have to pay.
It’s easy to get excited when you find a website platform that advertises itself as an easy-to-use solution for building a business website. But many people don’t realize until after buying a subscription that they also have to invest in things like domain names, hosting and SSL certificates.
Many people also don’t realize they have to renew their subscriptions every year to keep their websites live. And if they help with updates, the fees are quite high.
These hidden costs add up. In the long run, it’s more affordable for most businesses to hire professional help to build their website.
- You get what you pay for
Your business won’t stand out from the competition without an effective brand. It’s difficult to have a brand that stands out on your business’ website when you build it alone.
The reason for this is that most people who build a website for their small business are not experienced designers. When you do this, it’s nearly impossible to ensure that your brand website looks professional and stands out from the rest.
It’s also easy to fall for low prices. Sure, building a website might be cheaper than hiring a professional, but you get what you pay for. Those low prices tend to come with basic features and capabilities that won’t deliver the results you need to grow your business online.
- It’s easy to waste time on learning platforms
Even if tools such as website builders make it easy to drag and drop your needed elements onto a digital canvas to construct elements of your site. However, there are still many important things to know how to do.
For example, if you choose to build a website on WordPress by investing in a costly theme, you still have to know how to download and install the theme. You also need to know how to navigate the WordPress platform to install add-ons, such as spam blockers and contact forms.
You need training to do these things. If you don’t yet have the training, you’ll have to spend your valuable time learning how to do them. This is before you can even start building your website.
- Your first impression won’t be the right one
As your business’ most effective advertising tool, you want to make sure your website is the best it can be. It’s the place that your potential customers will find out about key things, such as your stories, services, products, and where you’re located.
This is why, for your website, first impressions are more relevant than ever. Before they navigate beyond your website homepage, they’ll judge your brand. And this is why it’s essential to grab their attention within the first couple of seconds on your website.
Professional website designers know how to do this. On the other hand, those who choose to build their own websites will have to learn how to do this through trial and error. In the meantime, they’ll probably lose many valuable leads.
- Search visibility won’t be available to you
Most people who try to design a business website on their own think that the actual design of the website is all that matters. What they don’t realize is that this is only one of many key things you need to know how to do. This is if you want to build the most effective website possible.
Something equally critical to designing a website is search engine optimization (SEO). Though website builders claim to have SEO tools, these tools are usually basic. They do not offer the features a small business needs.
Skilled professionals know how to do things, such as writing search-friendly content for their websites. This will ensure that potential customers can find your business online.
- There is no support or hand holding available when building your website
Did you know that those who design their websites spend less than a quarter of their time actually designing it? In contrast, they spend more than three-quarters of their time troubleshooting problems that come up? Small business owners who build websites don’t consider this.
Only afterwards, when it’s too late, do they realize how difficult it is to find the support they need when technical issues arise. If you’re building your website alone, expect glitches. And be ready to spend endless hours trying to figure out what went wrong.
- Your site will not be optimized
Small businesses need websites that are secure and fast enough to handle high traffic volumes. One of the most frustrating things that can happen to your website is that it crashes at a crucial moment when you need it the most.
This is why professionals offer technical solutions to these problems by optimizing your website. By hiring a pro, you’ll have peace of mind in knowing that your website will be dependable. You’ll also have to figure out confusing details, such as SSL certificates.
- The cost of changing it will be high
Those who build their own website realize afterwards how difficult it is to change it. They think they’ll improve their site later by hiring a web designer. The problem is that most web designers insist that you rebuild your site on their platform.
If they had their website designed by professionals from the start, it would have saved them lots of money.
- There are better things to do with your time
Chances are that you have a long list of things to accomplish every day that you show up for work on. If you’re a small business owner, you should focus on growing your business.
If you build your website, you’ll distract yourself from the things that matter most to you and your business. If you’re not trained as a web designer, why spend your time trying to be one?
- It’s better to leave design and development to the pros.
A web designer who knows what they’re doing can take the burden off your shoulders. You’ll have less to worry about, since you can put your trust in somebody who has many years of training and experience building websites.
You’ll also save money in the long run because professionals know how to build a website that converts visitors into paying customers.
In summary:
Don’t Waste Time Building Your Own Website
If you’ve been thinking about building a small business website on your own, remember that it’s not as easy as it might seem. You’ll have to pay hidden fees, and will probably have to spend many hours troubleshooting problems that will come up. Why not hire professional help to build your website instead?
If you’re interested in learning more about hiring our web design firm, please reach out to us. We’re here for anything you need.